Clear Spring at a glance
- Population: 370, the 131st-largest community in Maryland out of 157 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 371 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a decline of roughly 0.3% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Maryland places: 131st out of 157 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 17% of places in Maryland rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 39.6561, longitude -77.9304 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Williamsport, MD (7 mi); Hagerstown, MD (11 mi); Mercersburg, PA (12 mi); Funkstown, MD (12 mi); Hancock, MD (13 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Smaller towns nearby: Hedgesville, WV (8 mi); Burkittsville, MD (24 mi); Harpers Ferry, WV (25 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Clear Spring
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
APR, not the simple interest rate, reflects what the loan actually costs once fees are included; the personal loan calculator puts a figure on it.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
Before you borrow, decide what the loan is for and whether the monthly payment fits a budget you can already meet without taking on new debt.
Maryland lending rules that apply in Clear Spring
The table lists the Maryland rules that apply to a loan made in Clear Spring, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| OFR consumer-loan interest-rate limits | 2.75%/month (33%/yr) on the first $1,000 of a loan ≤$2,000; 2%/month (24%/yr) thereafter and on loans over $2,000 Source says: "Maximum interest rate allowed by law is 2.75% per month or an annual interest rate of 33%" | Maryland Department of Labor, Office of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 24% per year effective simple interest for qualifying loans (Md. Code Com. Law § 12-103(c)); otherwise 8% (written agreement) or 18% Source says: "a lender may charge an effective rate of simple interest not in excess of 24 percent per year on the unpaid principal balance" | Maryland General Assembly as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Regulated as consumer loans: licensing and statutory interest-rate limits apply to payday-style loans (OFR) Source says: "they are prohibited from charging or receiving an interest rate that is greater than authorized by the laws of this State" | Maryland Department of Labor, Office of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Lender license required to make loans under the Maryland Consumer Loan Law (Com. Law § 12-301 et seq.) Source says: "A Consumer Lender is a business that makes any loan or advance of money or credit under the Maryland Consumer Loan Law" | Maryland Department of Labor, Office of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Office of Financial Regulation; Commissioner of Financial Regulation (Maryland Department of Labor) Source says: "is Maryland's consumer financial protection agency and financial services regulator" | Maryland Department of Labor as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Clear Spring
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Clear Spring:
- Pull your free credit reports and dispute any error — it is the cheapest way to improve the rate you are offered.
- Run your figures through the personal loan calculator on this site so you know the payment before a lender quotes one.
- Pre-qualify with at least three lenders and compare the APR, not the interest rate.
- Check that the lender is licensed in Maryland using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.